مطارات أمريكا تعيش فوضى غير مسبوقة الليلة الماضية

Major airports in New York, Denver, and Los Angeles experienced significant delays on Monday night due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, with flights in Newark Liberty delayed by an hour, in Denver by about 40 minutes, while Burbank Airport recorded delays of up to two and a half hours.

Warning of Shutdown Consequences

This chaos came after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that a government shutdown could lead to a complete disruption of air travel, emphasizing that closing airspace would be an option if conditions worsened.

Controllers Working Without Pay

Air traffic controllers are being asked to work without pay during the shutdown, prompting some to resort to sick leave, as happened during the 2019 shutdown, exacerbating delays and threatening aviation safety.

Measures to Mitigate the Crisis

The Federal Aviation Administration is resorting to using the "Ground Delay Program" to manage flight traffic and prevent increased congestion at affected airports in an attempt to alleviate pressure, while ongoing runway construction at some airports adds to the complexity.

Threat to Rural Flights

The Transportation Secretary also warned that funding for the rural air service program could run out by Sunday unless the shutdown ends, threatening transportation service in remote areas.